PALISADES MEDICAL RECOGNIZES VOLUNTEERS – Palisades Medical Center celebrated National Volunteer Week by holding a special luncheon at The Waterside in North Bergen to recognize its volunteers for their efforts. During the luncheon, Palisades Medical Center staff presented commemorative pins to volunteers to recognize their cumulative hours of service to the Medical Center. More than 100 volunteers offer their time and energy in almost every department of the medical center including assisting the nursing staff and patients, working in the gift shop, performing clerical duties, and organizing special fundraising events.

High Tech fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation to honor local resident

The High Tech High “Spring Fling” fundraiser reached out to the community, raffling prizes donated by Applebee’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Chipotle, Café Archetypus, and many other local vendors. Students and staff took part in carnival games and table tennis tournaments, indulged in homemade food and desserts, and listened to a live DJ. Some even won goldfish as prizes.

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation is very dear to our academy,” said Jamie Velazquez, history teacher at the Academy of Architectural and Contemporary Themes (AACT) and facilitator of the Spring Fling Fundraiser. “Our first fundraiser was held two years ago and honored one of our AACT students who participated in the Make-A-Wish program during his battle with childhood leukemia.”

AACT seniors and juniors, led by Guttenberg resident Dunia Fernandez, Ayushi Khanchandani of Secaucus, and West New York resident Jalisa Valladares, helped make the Spring Fling a success. AACT plans other fundraisers soon to reach its donation goal of $3,000 to grant a child’s wish.

This year, AACT will honor North Bergen resident Caitlyn Orbe, a freshman in High Tech, diagnosed with cancer at the age of nine. To learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit http://nj.wish.org/about-us.

A North Bergen police officer was charged with biting a man’s thigh and causing serious injury during an altercation in James Braddock Park just past midnight on April 8. He was also charged with making terroristic threats against the other individual allegedly involved.

The officer, 34, was off-duty at the time of the incident. According to reports, he allegedly threatened repeatedly to kill the other man and allegedly assaulted him, biting his inner thigh through blue jeans.

The other man then allegedly used a knife to slash the off-duty officer behind his ear. The officer was treated at Palisade Medical Center and released.

The other man has been charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses related to a knife.

The officer was released into his own custody and placed on modified duty pending further investigation of the incident by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Park 12 Theatre undergoing renovations

Empire Cineplex’s Columbia Park 12 in North Bergen is under new management and undergoing renovation. Modernization will include digital projection and expanded gourmet concession menus with beer and wine service, theater representatives said.

The theater will also offer unusual “VIP seating.” Choices gathered from vendors across the globe have been set up in the theater’s lobby. The choices range from fully electric recliners to high back rockers with side tables. Patrons have been invited to vote on the best amenities by May 1.

EPA honors Hackensack Riverkeeper as exceptional environmental leader

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has honored Hackensack Riverkeeper and three other individuals and organizations from across New Jersey with Environmental Quality Awards for their achievements in protecting public health and the environment. EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck presented the awards at a ceremony on April 23 at the EPA offices in Manhattan.

Hackensack Riverkeeper was honored for running eco-programs all year that have proven highly successful in attracting thousands of people to the Hackensack River. During 2013, the Hackensack Riverkeeper’s eco-programs provided nearly 7,000 people with a mixture of environmental education and recreational opportunities on the river and empowered them to become active participants in preservation through widely-attended volunteer river cleanup events. The eco-cruise program, which invites visitors to tour the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers and Newark Bay, alone attracted 3,470 people this past year.

“We celebrate the exemplary work of people who work tirelessly to protect the environment and give their time and energy to create a cleaner and healthier future for us all,” said Enck of the awards. “Their extraordinary contributions serve as an inspiration to all who strive for a more sustainable environmental future.”

The EPA presents Environmental Quality Awards annually during Earth Week to individuals, businesses, government agencies, environmental and community-based organizations and members of the media in EPA Region 2, which covers New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally-recognized Indian Nations. The awards recognize significant contributions to improving the environment and public health in the previous calendar year.

Also honored were the Ironbound Community Corporation, Jessica Franzini of the New Jersey Tree Foundation, and Captain Alex Modjeski of the American Littoral Society. For information about the Environmental Quality Awards in EPA Region 2, visit http://www.epa.gov/region02/eqa/.

Palisades Medical Center announces schedule of free health screenings

Throughout the year, Palisades Medical Center’s staff partners with North Hudson Community Action Corporation, Christ Hospital School of Nursing, and Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern N.J. to provide free health screenings and education programs. Screenings and information include blood pressure, heart rate, percentage of oxygen in the blood, peak flow/respiratory, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Free health screenings will be held in the following communities in the coming months:

April 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 407-23rd street, Union City.

The economic recovery continues, but where is our regional economy headed and what does it mean for your business? The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce will host an informative business networking event on Wednesday, April 30 and welcome the New York Federal Reserve Bank for a regional economic outlook. Richard Peach, a senior vice president within the Macroeconomic and Monetary Studies function at the N.Y. Fed, is the guest speaker.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks that make up the Federal Reserve System. The N.Y. Fed serves a regional territory that includes the 12 northern counties in New Jersey. Mr. Peach will provide an outlook for our regional economy. This is also an opportunity to learn about Fed monetary policy and how it impacts local economies and businesses.

The special business networking event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the campus of host sponsor the University of Phoenix at 100 Town Square Place in Jersey City. Provident Bank is also sponsoring the event. Appetizers and beverages will be served. Admission is $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers, prior to the event. For reservations call (201) 386-0699 x 27 or visit the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce website at www.hudsonchamber.org.